How long does an enhanced CRB take?

MrsE_2

I have a standard CRB, done in June 07 (with the NHS).

I've changed department & I've had to apply for a CRB with my current employer (I didn't need one in my last dept).

Anyone know how long an enhanced CRB is taking at the mo?

Do you think the fact that I had a standard one done June 07 will speed it up?

My hubby has an enhanced CRB done, it took quite a while the first time, he thinks he remembers the second one being quicker.

LittleVoice

My experience too was that the second check was faster coming through than the first. Makes sense to me - they have already checked most of it and just need to ensure it is the same person and there hasn't been a change since the last time.

kelloggs36

They are pretty quick, although I was under the impression that it was supposed to last for 3 years with one employer so you shouldn't have needed one if you merely changed departments. I hope they didn't charge you for it.

fifitrix123

my 1st one took 2weeks

MrsE_2

LittleVoice wrote: »

My experience too was that the second check was faster coming through than the first. Makes sense to me - they have already checked most of it and just need to ensure it is the same person and there hasn't been a change since the last time.

Yes, I agree.

Do you think the fact that I've had a standard will speed up the enhanced?

Or are they very different & it will have to be done again.

Because as I have been checked up to a year ago then perhaps they will just need to check from then to now?

Or are they very different & my standard counts for nothing?

Anyone know the difference between a standard & enhanced?

Because Hubbys looks similar to mine, apart from title

MrsE_2

kelloggs36 wrote: »

They are pretty quick, although I was under the impression that it was supposed to last for 3 years with one employer so you shouldn't have needed one if you merely changed departments. I hope they didn't charge you for it.

No the one last year was for the NHS.

I now work for the council. The last dept I worked in I didn't need one, this one I do.

Hawthorn

My enhanced CRB took around 4 weeks if I remember correctly

Ebany

From my experience (and I process a lot as I work in a care agency and every one of our candidates has to be checked every year) they are all over the place. It depends where in the country you are, what time of year you apply (at certain times teachers apparently get priority to ensure schools get their staff in time) and, as far as I can tell, if the temp they have staffing the desk at your local police dpartment is having a good day or not.

I've got about 7 outstanding that were sent off in March, but of a similar number sent out in June, only 3 are left to come back. I can see no rhyme or reason for whose is quick and whose is slow. I've had one take 6 days, and one take 6 months.

The main slowing point seems to be the police around here. They have a target to return all requests within 60 days, and stats for how your local police force does with this can be found on the CRB website. Mine isn't doing very well Our average is about 4-6 weeks for them to come back.

It doesn't appear to have any effect if a CRB has been applied for recently, though we have heard rumour it can help if the number of the other crb is put in with the new application. Its hard to tell if this has any real effect though, as they were so random before.

As for validity, technically a CRB is out of date the minute after it is printed. It is up to companies own policies how often they feel they should re-check. I think most companies have more relaxed policies than we do, but then as an agency we don't have such a good idea what our candidates have been up to - it would be easy to vanish for a while due to the fallout of doing something and us not realise, whereas I should think that would be alot harder with a regular job.

I hope yours comes back quickly for you. If you can get the reference number from your form then you can call and track its progress, or follow it online, but there isn't a lot you can do to speed it up (we sometimes suggest calling every day to make them speed it up just to make you go away!)

MrsE_2

Ebany wrote: »

It doesn't appear to have any effect if a CRB has been applied for recently, though we have heard rumour it can help if the number of the other crb is put in with the new application. Its hard to tell if this has any real effect though, as they were so random before.

I didn't see anywhere on the form to state the number of your last one, mind you my last one was only a standard anyway.



I hope yours comes back quickly for you. If you can get the reference number from your form then you can call and track its progress, or follow it online, but there isn't a lot you can do to speed it up (we sometimes suggest calling every day to make them speed it up just to make you go away!)

I didn't keep the number of it, I have no idea where its gone. I sent it back to HR. I suspose I could ask them. I think you have to wait 8 weeks before you can chase it up anyway?

Might be a slow time to apply just now, I should imagine lots of teachers have theirs in.

Ebany

There isn't a space on the form to add it, it would have to go on an additional sheet. Thats one of the reasons I don't think they make much difference.

I would imagine your HR dept would have kept a note of the reference number (they would need it to chase it up too, so it would be silly not to), and yes, we are always told we can't chase until they have been with the police for at least 60 days. I've heard some of our candidates talk of calling them to chase up sooner, but I'm not sure what response they get. As the countersignatories, we are definitely told to go away and be patient.

Magurdrac

4-6 Weeks is the standard we tend to work to.

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